How to get rid of worms?

16 December 2023

Man suffers abdominal pain caused by worms

More than 1. 5 billion people are infected with worms. You can get worms through food, raw water, or contact with sick people.Helminthosis, or helminth infection, is a group of diseases caused by parasites that live in the human body. The latest data shows that 1 in 100 people is a latent carrier, and about 80% of new cases occur in children and adolescents. At the same time, helminthiasis is not only found in underdeveloped countries: outbreaks of pinworms and ascariasis often occur among wealthy populations.The widespread distribution of helminthiasis may be explained by the early asymptomatic course of the disease. Additionally, when the number of parasites in the body is low, symptoms of infection do not appear. A patient may not suspect the presence of the parasite for a long time and still infect others.

How dangerous are worms?

Today, there are 360 species of worms known to be harmful to humans. Most of them live in the human intestine or liver, but, depending on the type of parasite and its life cycle (eggs, larvae, adults), any organ and system can be affected: lungs, heart, central nervous system, muscles, Eyeballs and so on. further.The main damage caused by parasites is:

Anemia develops gradually (insufficient number of red blood cells).Worms consume nutrients from the intestines, causing the body to be unable to absorb enough trace and macroelements, causing patients to lose weight and become deficient in vitamins;
Destruction of organs and tissues.Many worms penetrate the intestinal wall and damage surrounding tissue during migration. Micro-wounds and ulcers appear on organs, the gastrointestinal mucosa is constantly inflamed, and the risk of infection increases;
Pathologies of the nervous system.Worms not only destroy surrounding tissue but also release waste products - toxins that have damaging effects on central and peripheral nerves. Patients become nervous, irritable, and suffer from headaches, insomnia, lethargy, and apathy;
allergic reaction.Worm waste products (toxins) are also dangerous allergens. Therefore, when infected with worms, rashes, itching, and possibly nausea and vomiting often occur.

Worm infections in children can cause developmental delays and lead to dangerous complications: from intestinal perforation (through ulcers) to paralysis of the arms and legs.

Worms are a typical example

The most common types of parasites include:

Pinworm– Roundworms that penetrate the rectum and colon. Infections can occur when personal hygiene rules are not followed;
roundworms– Roundworms that attack the small intestine. During the developmental cycle, they can migrate with the flow of blood and lymph fluid into the lungs and heart;
Whipworm- Roundworms that live in the large intestine. It penetrates the mucosa with the help of fine heads, destroys the integrity of the tissue and causes microulcers;
posterior testis– Flatworms that attack the liver. The parasite blocks the bile ducts, causing bile to stagnate and disrupting the organ's normal function;
crooked head- Ascaris parasitic in the duodenum. Infection occurs through contact with the larvae, which pierce the skin, enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body;
bull tapeworm- Tapeworms up to 10 meters in length. Occupies almost the entire intestine, causing severe exhaustion;
Intestine eel– Roundworms that penetrate the colon and cecum. In order to lay eggs, the worms move close to the anus, causing severe itching in the anal area;
Echinococcus– Tapeworms affect not only the gastrointestinal tract, but also the liver and lungs. They cause hydatid disease, a disease in which cysts form in various organs in a person.

How do worms spread?

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1. 5 billion people worldwide suffer from soil-transmitted helminthiasis. There is a common misconception that you can get worms only by eating low-quality food: untreated water, unwashed fruits and vegetables, or unprocessed meat and fish. but it is not the truth. Some parasites can penetrate intact skin.Worm larvae penetrate the skin, enter the capillaries, and travel throughout the body along the bloodstream. In humans, this puncture is not sensitive - it is difficult to suspect infection. You can also get parasites by breathing in tiny eggs and dust.

How do you tell if you have worms?

Depending on which organ is affected by the worm infection, patients may develop conjunctivitis, cough, headache, swelling, and tremors in the limbs. In severe cases of vitamin deficiency, joint pain occurs, hair falls out, and nails begin to peel. In children, helminthiasis can cause physical and mental developmental delays.Common symptoms of human worms are:

malaise, weakness, fatigue;
Allergies, such as rashes, coughs, asthma attacks;
Decreased or increased appetite;
Nausea and vomiting, not poisoning;
stomach ache;
diarrhea or constipation;
Weight loss, even with good appetite;
Sleep problems, insomnia;
Inflamed or swollen lymph nodes;
Fever for no apparent reason;
Muscle and joint pain without exercise;
Snoring or grinding teeth while sleeping;
Presence of worms in feces;
Itching in the anal area (usually pinworms).

How to tell if there are bugs?

It is not possible to independently determine whether a worm infection is present. In its initial stages, the disease may actually be asymptomatic. The patient feels no pain; the immune system suppresses the disease-causing effects of toxins and allergens for a period of time. Typically, the condition begins to worsen during larval migration or as the worm population increases. The more severe the infection (i. e. the more parasites there are), the more symptoms will occur.However, the asymptomatic invasion process is dangerous - the patient infects others, and his health gradually deteriorates. In order to detect this disease, it is necessary to go to the hospital regularly for preventive examinations. As part of prevention, therapists perform worm testing at least once a year. If you live in an endemic area - every six months.

Worm analysis

To detect worm infection, the following tests can be performed:

Stool analysis.Check the stool for the presence of worm eggs. The analysis requires no preliminary preparation: patients only need to bring their stool sample;
Analysis of pinworm disease.To identify pinworms (a disease caused by pinworms), just take a scraping (smear) from the anal area. Usually the test is done in the morning before going to the toilet;
Blood tests for specific antibodies.This is the most revealing research that has allowed us to identify parasites such as roundworms, opisthorchis, acnes, and lamblia.

How long is a stool test for worms valid?

Worm fecal testing allows experts to detect worm eggs if they are present. This study does not provide a 100% guarantee of detection, as the number of eggs depends on the worm's life cycle and they may sometimes not be detected in the feces although the invasion is still present. Therefore, in most cases, doctors recommend two or three stool tests with short intervals between tests.

Blood test for parasites

Blood testing for specific antibodies is the most effective way to detect worm infection. After analysis, the doctor can not only talk about the presence of worms, but also determine their type and thus choose the most effective treatment complex.The worm is recognized as a pathogen by the body's immune system: the body begins to produce specific antibodies to fight the parasite. This is what the analysis revealed.

Which worm test is better?

If a parasitic infection is suspected, your doctor will perform a number of tests. Comprehensive research allows you to determine with 100% accuracy the presence of a worm, its type and the stage of its life cycle. It cannot be said that any analysis is good or bad: multiple tests are necessary to increase the reliability of the diagnosis.

Where to go if worms are suspected?

If you suspect a worm infection, you must make an appointment with an infectious disease specialist. In its early stages, helminthiasis has no specific symptoms, making it difficult to suspect that you or a loved one has worms. Usually, patients complain of mild discomfort: indigestion, headache, apathy.If symptoms do not go away within a week or if the condition returns regularly (for example, feeling unwell every 3-4 months), you should talk to your doctor. Episodes of poor health may be related to the migration of parasites.

Which doctor treats human worms?

Treatment of parasitic infections is performed by an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist. But you should not immediately consult a specialist: it is better to consult a therapist. He will prescribe a series of tests and, if necessary, refer you to a parasitologist or gastroenterologist.

How is helminthiasis treated?

If worms are detected, doctors will prescribe antiparasitic drugs to fight the specific type of worms. Modern drugs are equally effective against worms at all stages of their life cycle: adults, larvae and eggs. In most cases, a single dose of tablets is enough, but sometimes a course of medication is needed - treatment is prescribed by a therapist or parasitologist. Deviation from established treatment strategies is unacceptable – this may result in eggs remaining in the body, leading to reinfection.In addition to antiparasitic drugs, it is possible to take drugs to improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, vitamins to eliminate vitamin deficiencies and antihistamines (for allergic reactions).

Helminthiasis: Folk Remedy Treatment

There are enough folk remedies to treat helminthiasis. Patients are advised to consume large amounts of foods containing strong essential oils: for example, drinking clove infusion or eating garlic. Not only is this approach ineffective, it's also dangerous.If the intestines are damaged by worms, consuming products containing potent essential oils can further irritate the mucous membranes, increasing pain and bowel problems.You also should not use deworming medications without consulting your doctor. Some drugs cause the death of the worms but do not cause their evacuation, that is, they remain in the body, causing severe poisoning. Intrusions can be treated safely only under the supervision of an experienced physician!

Prevent helminthiasis

Treatment of helminthiasis should be carried out not only by the patient himself, but also by all members of his family. Bedding and underwear also need to be boiled and wet cleaned with disinfectant. In order to prevent worm infections in the future, it is recommended to:

Control the quality of the food you eat: don’t eat unwashed vegetables, fruits and herbs, unprocessed meat or raw fish;
Follow personal hygiene rules and do not use other people's towels and utensils;
Conduct a comprehensive inspection every year, including egg testing.

Worm infections are highly treatable and, if detected early, do not cause serious damage to the body. Therefore, the most important thing is to seek medical treatment promptly. To prevent helminthiasis, it is necessary to observe hygiene rules and undergo regular examinations by a doctor.